COEN 445
Communication Networks and Protocols
Lab 4
Socket Programming with Python:
Web Server
Claude Fachkha
Introduction
Python is a general purpose, high level programming language that is used in a variety
of application domains. The Python language has a very clear and expressive syntax as
well as a large and comprehensive library. Although Python is often used as a scripting
language, it can also be used in a wide range of non-scripting contexts. It’s available
for all major Operating Systems. Python is free to use, even for commercial products,
because of its OSI-approved open source license.
Note that in this lab, the explanation includes Python language only. However,
feel free to use any programming language (i.e., Java, C++, etc.) to finish the
experiments. The concept of socket programming is the same under all platforms.
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1. Installing & Running Python
http://www.python.org/
Hello World Program
- Run the Python Shell
- print “hello world”
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1.1 Example of a Basic Python Program
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2. Socket Programming Assignment 1
Web Server
In this lab, you will learn the basics of socket programming for TCP connections in Python:
how to create a socket, bind it to a specific address and port, as well as send and receive a
HTTP packet. You will also learn some basics of HTTP header format.
You will develop a web server that handles one HTTP request at a time. Your web server
should accept and parse the HTTP request, get the requested file from the server’s file
system, create an HTTP response message consisting of the requested file preceded by
header lines, and then send the response directly to the client. If the requested file is not
present in the server, the server should send an HTTP “404 Not Found” message back to the
client.
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2. Socket Programming Assignment 1
Web Server (Cont.)
Code
Next you will find the skeleton code for the Web server. You are to complete the skeleton code.
The places where you need to fill in code are marked with #Fill in start and #Fill in end. Each
place may require one or more lines of code.
Running the Server
Put an HTML file (e.g., HelloWorld.html) in the same directory that the server is in. Run the server
program. Determine the IP address of the host that is running the server (e.g., 128.238.251.26). From
another host, open a browser and provide the corresponding URL. For example:
http://128.238.251.26:6789/HelloWorld.html
‘HelloWorld.html’ is the name of the file you placed in the server directory. Note also the use of the port
number after the colon. You need to replace this port number with whatever port you have used in the
server code. In the above example, we have used the port number 6789. The browser should then display
the contents of HelloWorld.html. If you omit ":6789", the browser will assume port 80 and you will get the
web page from the server only if your server is listening at port 80.
Then try to get a file that is not present at the server. You should get a “404 Not Found” message.
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2. Socket Programming Assignment 1
Web Server (Cont.)
Skeleton Python Code for the Web Server
#import socket module
from socket import *
serverSocket = socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM)
#Prepare a sever socket
#Fill in start
#Fill in end
while True:
#Establish the connection
print 'Ready to serve...'
connectionSocket, addr = #Fill in start #Fill in end
try:
message = #Fill in start #Fill in end
filename = message.split()[1]
f = open(filename[1:])
outputdata = #Fill in start #Fill in end
#Send one HTTP header line into socket
#Fill in start
#Fill in end
#Send the content of the requested file to the client
for i in range(0, len(outputdata)):
connectionSocket.send(outputdata[i])
connectionSocket.close()
except IOError:
#Send response message for file not found
#Fill in start
#Fill in end
#Close client socket
#Fill in start
#Fill in end
serverSocket.close()
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2 Socket Programming Assignment 1
Web Server (Cont.)
Optional Exercises
1. Currently, the web server handles only one HTTP request at a time. Implement a multithreaded
server that is capable of serving multiple requests simultaneously. Using threading, first create a
main thread in which your modified server listens for clients at a fixed port. When it receives a
TCP connection request from a client, it will set up the TCP connection through another port and
services the client request in a separate thread. There will be a separate TCP connection in a
separate thread for each request/response pair.
2. Instead of using a browser, write your own HTTP client to test your server. Your client will
connect to the server using a TCP connection, send an HTTP request to the server, and display the
server response as an output. You can assume that the HTTP request sent is a GET method.
The client should take command line arguments specifying the server IP address or host name, the
port at which the server is listening, and the path at which the requested object is stored at the
server. The following is an input command format to run the client.
client.py server_host server_port filename
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References
Online services - Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach, 6/E
James F. Kurose, University of Massachusetts, Amherst - See more at: Keith W.
Ross, Polytechnic University, Brooklyn
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Claude Fachkha
c_fachkh@encs.concordia.ca